Epilepsy is a susceptibility for having seizures. The condition has being recognized since around 400BC, when it was often attributed to possession by evil spirits. But today we are not much closer to truly understanding what causes it.

Seizures are sometimes preceded by an 'aura', but not all epileptics will have them and there is great variation in the experiences. Sometimes the aura is enjoyable, making the person feeling overwhelmingly happy or ecstatic. But they can also be very unpleasant, causing fear, anxiety or nausea. How the aura presents itself may depend on the area of the brain affected. For instance, if it starts in the area which deals with perception it can be an auditory or visual experience. If a seizure begins in the motor cortex the first sign that an epileptic fit is imminent might be a tremor in one of the limbs.

Many epileptics will never have a real explanation as to what triggered their condition. There are a number of things which are known to cause epilepsy though. This includes some types of head trauma, a brain tumour, a high fever or a stroke. Some people may have a genetic predisposition to the disorder.

Whatever the cause, some sort of damage to the brain makes it vulnerable to hyperactivity. This inappropriate electrical response spreads to the adjacent nerve cells and quickly overwhelms them. Soon, the whole brain is effected by this overload of electrical impulses. Stress, alcohol, strobe lighting and drug use can all contribute to the start of a seizure.

If you are with someone who is having an epileptic fit, place them gently on their side with something soft (such as a rolled up jumper or cushion) under their head. Do not try to restrain them. It can be quite a frightening thing to witness, but remain calm and reassure them until the seizure stops (they normally last several minutes).

Medical advancements means most epileptics can still live a normal life.